"If they've accepted an offer from Chelsea, £3m, I don't know if we would be prepared to match that offer, I doubt it very much," he said after his side's goalless draw with Manchester United this afternoon.

"I'd think if Chelsea are coming in, the wages they would pay would be far in excess of what we would pay."

Everton admitted they had allowed the 28-year-old South Africa winger to talk to Chelsea but not Tottenham because the north London club had not offered enough money.